True - it's the carriers that are doing this. But desirability is relative. If carriers like doing this so they can get two contracts, then which of them is offering BOGO deals on an iPhone. Any one. Ever ? [deals on previous models don't count -- the BOGO deal on Galaxy S5 was available on launch day ! ]

Well, maxed-out iPhone 6 is $849 (128 GB, unlocked). And, yes - more than $199. But less than the $859.99 price listed above for the S6. The iPhone 6+ is more expensive, as is the S6 Edge. Same situation applies - iPhone is slightly less expensive.

BMW could start by fixing the disastrous audio support in existing cars.
My 2012 5-series locks up the iPod Classic about once a week, requiring a hard restart. It's not an iPod problem (does the same with two separate iPod Classics, and less frequently with a Nano and an iPhone). BMW refuses to acknowledge that there is a problem but the discussion boards have thousands of complaints.

I had T-Mo on my iPhone 5 for a while but finally had to give up because I'm in a dead spot. It's green all around and very fast, but I get zero-to-one bar on my iPhone at home. There was a plan to improve service here but so far that hasn't happened. Pity.